Diodorus Siculus

FRAGMENTS - The Library of History



Page 773 18. Euemerus King of Parthia Born in Hyrcania, exceeding all other Princes in Cruelty, omitted no sorts of Torments he could invent. For many of the Babylonians, upon slight grounds, with their whole Families, he made Slaves and sent them into Media to be Sold. He burnt likewise to the ground the Market-place, and some of the Temples in Babylon, and raz'd the fairest and most beautiful parts of the City.

19. Alexander sirnam'd Zabinas, when those Renown'd Captains Antipater, Ponius, and Aeropus Revolted from him, and seiz'd upon Laodicea; he at length took the City: However, he Generously spar'd them all. For he was of a mild and gentle Disposition, and pleasing Temper, and of a wonderful Affability in his Converse or Discourse, and was therefore greatly Belov'd of every Body.

20. When Caius Sextius had Taken the City of the Gauls, and Sold the Inhabitants for Slaves, One Crato who was led in Chains with the rest, came up to the Consul, as he sate upon the Tribunal, and told him, He had ever been a Friend to the Romans, and for that reason had suffer'd many Injuries, and had undergone many Stripes and Scourgings from his fellow Citizens: Upon which, Sextius forthwith, with all the demonstration of Kindness, as of a Kinsman, Released him from his Bonds, and Restor'd him his Goods; And for his Good Will to the Romans, gave him Power to set free 900 of the Citizens, such as he himself thought fit. For the Consul was more Generous and Bountiful to Crato than he expected, to the end the Gauls might see how exactly Just the Romans were, both in their Punishments and Rewards.

21. Alexander not being very confident of the multitude, both in regard of their Rawness in Martial Affairs, and their natural Inconstancy, and hankring after Innovations would not adventure upon a pitcht Field; but having got together as much Money as he could, out of the Publick Treasuries, and pillag'd the Temples, resolv'd by Night to steal away into Greece. But whilst he attempted, by the help of some of his Barbarians, to plunder Jupiter's Temple, he was seiz'd upon, and himself and whole Army had like to have been cut off: but he soon escap'd out of their hands and made towards Seleucia: But the Seleucians having heard before-hand, the Brute of his Sacriledge shut their Gates against him; Failing there of his purpose he went to Pisidium, and never after departed from the Sea-Coast.

22. After Caius Gracchus was kill'd by the hands of his own Servant, LuciusVitellius who had been one of his particular Friends, was the first that got his Body; and was so far from being troubl'd at his death, that he cut off his Head, and carry'd it to his own House, thereby giving a remarkable Instance of his Cruelty and Covetousness. For when LuciusOpinius the Consul by Proclamation promis'd to Reward him that should bring to him Gracchus his Head, with the weight of it in Gold, Vitellius bor'd a hole in the Neck, and drawing out the Brains, poured in melted Lead in the room. Then he brought the Head to Opinius, and return'd with the promis'd Reward, but was afterwards hated by all to the day of his death, as a Betrayer of his Friend. The Flacci were also all put to death.

23. In Lybia the two Kings drew up their Armies one against another, and Jugurtha routed the Numidians in a great Battle, slaying many of them; whereupon Adherbal his Brother fled to Cirta, where being straitly Besieg'd he sent Ambassadors to Rome to intreat them not to suffer a King that was their Friend and Ally to be utterly ruin'd: Whereupon the Senate forthwith sent Messengers into Numidia with Orders to Jugurtha to raise his Siege: which he disregarding, they sent another Embassy vested with Power and Authority; but that was as fruitless as the other; and at length Jugurtha straitly blocking up the City round, through extremity of Famine forc'd it to a Surrender, and most unnaturally slew his Brother as he was going out of the City with his Children, and leaving the Kingdom, beseeching him only to spare his Life, neither regarding the Laws of Nature and Consanguinity, nor of Arms, in sparing those that beg for Quarter: He likewise scourg'd all the Italians to death that sided with his Brother.

24. Publius Scipio Nasica the Consul, was a Man renown'd both for his Virtue and Nobleness of Birth; for he was of the same Family with Africanus, and Hispanicus; of whom the first Conquer'd Africa, the other Asia, and the third Spain; and from thence gain'd the several Sirnames before mention'd: And besides the Eminency of his Birth, his Father and Grandfather were the most Eminent Men of the City; for both of them were Presidents of the Senate; and the first that gave their Votes, and delivered their Opinions in all publick Matters, to the time of their Deaths. His Grandfather upon an Occasion was judg'd by the Senate the Best Man of all the Roman Citizens. For it being found written in the Sibyls Books, That the Romans should build a Temple in honour of the great Mother of the Gods, and should bring her Image from Pessinunt in Asia, and


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